Irrfan Khan’s Wife Sutapa Sikdar Opens Up About Their Love Story On The Actor’s 55th Birth Anniversary
Bollywood films usually sell on the actor’s stardom but some actors don’t need lakhs of fans waiting outside their doors to show that they are talented and brilliant and one of them was Irrfan Khan. Born on 7th January 1967, Irrfan Khan is known for his exceptional work in Indian cinema, British cinema and Hollywood. He has featured in more than fifty films and received several awards, including National Film Award and Filmfare Awards. Film critics and cinema lovers consider Irrfan Khan to be one of the finest actors (and for good reason). In fact, in 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to the field of arts. Sadly, we lost Irrfan Khan on 29 April 2020 due to cancer and his death left a void in the world of cinema that will remain unfilled forever. On Irrfan Khan’s 55th birth anniversary, his wife and film producer Sutapa Sikdar shared some insights about the late actor and their union.
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On 23 February 1995, Irrfan Khan married his NSD classmate and writer Sutapa Sikdar. The couple first met at the National School of Drama in Delhi, she was brought up in Delhi and he was a shy and lanky guy from Rajasthan. They both were poles apart and even though he was not her type, she knew they were meant for each other. Speaking about it, Sutapa said that she liked Irrfan because of his sincerity and his passion for acting. When asked about how different they were as artists and people, she shared that Irrfan was an introvert with a gentle soul. On the other hand, Sutapa could fight for her rights and sometimes she could be aggressive and impatient as well but Irrfan, she reveled, was always patient. Opening up about her marriage with Irrfan Khan, she said that she calls it a ‘union’ because a union is between two people who are willing to risk their life, be themselves and stay together whereas, marriage is a social norm. Sutapa Sikdar also revealed that Irrfan was ‘not husband material’ because he never made her feel special but at the same time he couldn’t imagine his life without her. She added that Irrfan was always scared that she will get bored of him and will leave him.
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Irrfan Khan and Sutapa Sikdar have two kids together, Baabil and Ayaan Khan. When asked about how he redefined fatherhood, Sutapa Sikdar said that Irrfan never imposed his expectations on his sons because he just wanted them to be good people. Talking about the actor’s diagnosis, Sutapa shared all about how it taught her that everything can wait including your career and success but you owe time to your family and should try to spend some time with them. She also shared an interesting anecdote about Irrfan Khan when he was battling cancer. She revealed that that after a chemo session, the duo were lying down in London’s Hyde Park and planning a trip to Europe when Irrfan Khan suddenly started laughing and said, “How can I take so many unwanted guests in my body (referring to the disease) for a family vacation?”
Opening up about Irrfan Khan’s death, the film producer said that she sang some of his favourite songs to him just before his death including, “Jhoola Kinne Dala” from Umrao Jaan, “Lag Jaa Gale” from Woh Kaun Thi?, the ghazal “Aaj jaane ki zid na karo” and some Rabindra sangeet. She mentioned that Irrfan was unconscious at that time but he had tears rolling down his face.
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Sutapa Sikdar mentioned that Irrfan Khan’s death is not a loss for her because she has realised how much she gained from him emotionally and spiritually and now it’s time for her to celebrate, reflect and reconsider the way to look at life without his presence. She concluded by saying that his vision and the ability to face hardships gives her the strength to embrace life after him with the help of some great female friends.
Also Read: Remembering Irrfan Khan: 7 Movies Where His Character Had A Beautiful, Supportive Relationship With Women
Irrfan Khan left us too soon but he left behind some truly memorable characters and films that redefined Indian cinema including Maqbool, Salaam Bombay!, Slumdog Millionaire, Piku, Life in a…Metro, The Namesake and many more.
A Tweet Pointed Out How Bollywood Male Characters We Love Were Written By Women. They Weren’t Perfect, And That’s What Mattered!
